MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine 2005 hubbsi hake quota: 380,000 tons

The Argentine Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food announced the hubbsi hake quota for 2005 which will total 380,000 tons.

According to Resolution 1388/2004 published in the Argentine Official Gazette, there will be two thirty day hake "biological bans", one each per six months during 2005.

The cold storage (high seas) fleet will be entitled to 70,000 tons while the fresh hake fleet will have a 270,000 tons quota.

The two annual biological bans will extend thirty days each time for the cold storage vessels, with the possibility of splitting each thirty days in two fifteen day periods, but the first ban must take place before June 30.

As to the fresh hake fleet (operating with plants established in Argentine territory), the ban will extend 20 days each six months, with the first taking place before June 30 and the second between July 1 and November 30, 2005.

Another 35,000 tons are left for self distribution by the provinces of Buenos Aires, Chubut, Santa Cruz and Rio Negro.

According to the first reactions the resolution differs in some details from the draft which was shown originally to the fishing industry organizations.